Albania was among the first Eastern European countries to join
the Partnership for Peace programme.
Albanian politicians considered admission to NATO a top priority.
Since 1992 Albania has been extensively engaged with NATO and has
maintained its position as a stability factor and a strong ally of
USA and EU in the troubled
and divided region of the Balkans. In addition to the political
will, the overwhelming majority of 95% of the Albanian population
supported NATO membership.[4]

North Atlantic Cooperation
Council

After the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, NATO created the
North Atlantic Cooperation Council (NACC) to strengthen
institutional cooperation on the political and security issues
between NATO members and former Warsaw Pact countries. Albania
joined in 1992.[1]

Partnership for Peace

Partnership for Peace (PfP) is a NATO program aimed at creating
trust between NATO and other states in Europe and the former Soviet Union.[5]
Albania signed the Partnership for Peace agreement 23 February
1994.[2]

It was on this same day, 23 February, that Albania first
officially applied to join NATO.[1]

Membership Action Plan

NATO Membership Action Plans (MAP) are designed to assist
aspiring partner countries meet NATO standards and prepare for
possible future membership. Aspiring nations must first participate
in MAP before they join the alliance. The Membership Action Plan
(MAP) will remain the vehicle to keep aspirants’ progress under
review.[6]

Bucharest summit
accession protocols

At the 2008 NATO Bucharest summit, NATO member states signed accession
protocols for Albania and Croatia. A signing ceremony was held, and
witnessed by the foreign ministers of the two countries. Individual
NATO member states must ratify the protocols according to their
national requirements and procedures. NATO hopes to have this
completed by the next NATO summit in April 2009.[7]

The Accession of Albania to NATO took place in 2009. Albania's relationship with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) began in 1992 when it joined the North Atlantic Cooperation Council.[1] In 1994, it entered NATO's Partnership for Peace, which began Albania's process of accession into the alliance.[2] In 1999, the country received a Membership Action Plan (MAP).[3] The country received an invitation to join at the 2008 Bucharest Summit and became a full member on April 1, 2009.

Albania was among the first Eastern European countries to join the Partnership for Peace programme. Albanian politicians considered admission to NATO a top priority. Since 1992 Albania has been extensively engaged with NATO and has maintained its position as a stability factor and a strong ally of USA and EU in the troubled and divided region of the Balkans. In addition to the political will, the overwhelming majority of 95% of the Albanian population supported NATO membership.[4]

North Atlantic Cooperation Council

After the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, NATO created the North Atlantic Cooperation Council (NACC) to strengthen institutional cooperation on the political and security issues between NATO members and former Warsaw Pact countries. Albania joined in 1992.[1]

Partnership for Peace

Partnership for Peace (PfP) is a NATO program aimed at creating trust between NATO and other states in Europe and the former Soviet Union.[5] Albania signed the Partnership for Peace agreement 23 February 1994.[2]

It was on this same day, 23 February, that Albania first officially applied to join NATO.[1]

Membership Action Plan

NATO Membership Action Plans (MAP) are designed to assist aspiring partner countries meet NATO standards and prepare for possible future membership. Aspiring nations must first participate in MAP before they join the alliance. The Membership Action Plan (MAP) will remain the vehicle to keep aspirants’ progress under review.[6]

Bucharest summit accession protocols

At the 2008 NATO Bucharest summit, NATO member states signed accession protocols for Albania and Croatia. A signing ceremony was held, and witnessed by the foreign ministers of the two countries. Individual NATO member states must ratify the protocols according to their national requirements and procedures. NATO hopes to have this completed by the next NATO summit in April 2009.[7]